Perforation of tabulating cards



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L. M. BALLARD `PERFOHA'IION OF TABULATING CARDS UY'I'fiqUv-g- Much 10, 1970 Filed Nov. 2. 1965 IG. 3,

f/vvEA/roe. L 0/5 M' Blauw@ VOLTA 6E SOURCE United States Patent O 3,500,435 PERFORATION F TABULATING CARDS Louis M. Ballard, Arcadia, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Rusco Industries, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 506,094

y Int. Cl. G01d 15/06 U.S. Cl. 346-74 13 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE Method and apparatus for effecting electrical current ow through a sheet (such as a tabulating card or paper tape) in response to movement of an electrode relative to the sheet and current conductive channels, to effect perforation of the sheet in a pattern representative of data to be transferred to the sheet.

This invention regulates generally to information storage and more particularly concerns improvements in the storage of data on media such as tabulating cards or paper tape.

Among the important objects of the invention are the provision of method and apparatus for effecting electrical current iiow through the sheet to perforate the sheet in a pattern representative of data to be transferred to the sheet; the provision of current conductive channels defining the pattern of data to be perforation stored in the sheet; the definition of current conductive channels by through openings in an insulative credit card; the provision for supply of sufficient voltage to the electrode to effect current flow through the sheet for perforatingit when the sheet extends adjacent the channels; the provision of an electrically insulative member containing the channeling, the latter for example comprising electrical current conductors carried to project toward the sheet; the provision of certain of such conductors having fixed position relative to the insulative member and others of such conductors that are movable along slots in the insulative member; and the provision of a printer located to print on the sheet in response to relative movement of the electrode and sheet.

Advantages include simpler construction and operation of sheet perforation apparatus as compared with prior devices; the provision for sheet or tabulating card storage, by means of electrical perforation, of information which is fixed as in a credit card, semi-fixed as in a somewhat adjustable current flow channel pattern, and variable as in a fully variable current fiow channel pattern; and the provision for printing on the sheet information corresponding to that stored in the sheet by electrical perforation. Further, the transfer of fixed, semi-fixed and variable information to the sheet can be carried out selectively or cumulatively, as will be described, lending a high degree of versatility to the equipment.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of the equipment in association with a sheet in the form of a tabulating card;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another form of the equipment in association with a tabulating card or sheet; and

FIGS. 4-6 are sections taken on lines 4-4, 5-5 and A6--6 of FIG. 3.

In accordance with the invention, the apparatus for transferring data to a dielectric sheet comprises means to define a zone to receive the sheet in predetermined ICC proximate relation to electrical current conductive channels in a pattern representative of data to be transferred to the sheet, such means including an electrode relatively movable in electrical current transfer proximity to the zone to effect electrical current flow through the sheet and the channels and to perforate the sheet in a pattern corresponding to the channel pattern. Typically, the sheet may comprise a tabulating card, or paper tape, or the like.

In that form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet is defined by an ordinary tabulating card 10 having rows and columns of numbers generally illustrated at 11, and which are adapted to be selectively punched as indicated at 12 for example. The card is received in a Zone seen in FIG. 2 as defined by means that includes the bar electrode 13 movable as indicated by arrow 14 in electrical current transfer proximity to the zone between the electrode 13 and a base 15. The latter is also current conductive, and means to supply electric current is indicated at 16, there `being leads 17 and 18 extending between the power supply 16 and the electrode 13 and base 15 so that a voltage differential is applied between the latter. That voltage, either AC or DC, is sufficient to effect current flow through the card to perforate the latter in a pattern corresponding to a channel pattern, as will now be described.

In the form of the invention seen in FIGS. l and 2, the channel pattern is `defined by` through openings 19 in an electrically insulative card 20, as for example a plastic credit card. The card extends in face to face relation with the sheet 10, the latter being supported on the base 15, whereby the card 10 is sandwiched between the base and the card 20. Relative positions of the plastic card 20 and the tab card 10 are such as to place the punched openings or slots 19 in card 20 directly over corresponding punching positions of the tab card 10.

When the bar electrode is moved to the right in the direction of arrow 14 to pass over the Openings 19, an electrical current iiow, as for example arcing, will occur between the undersurface 21 of the electrode and the base 15 due to the reduced dielectric resistance to such flow offered by the channels or slots 19 and the material of the tab card 10 exposed beneath the channels 19. Further, the current flow will be extinguished when the electrode is over an area of the card 20 through which there is no channel. In this manner, small pin holes are burned into and through the tab card 10, perforating it in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the channels or slots 19 in the card 20.

While the electrode 13 is shown as a slide bar, it can be of various shapes. Also it can be made to skid or roll across the upper surface of the card 20. Suitable locating stops for the cards 10 and 20 are seen at 22 and 23 in FIG. 2.

Turning now to FIGS. 3-6, the dielectric sheet is again shown in the form of a tabulating card 30 received in a zone dened by means including the roller electrode 31 and the structure 32. The latter includes a metal base 33 and an electrically insulative member or layer 34. The latter is carried by the base rightwardly of shoulder 35 so that the upper surface 36 of the layer 34 is in substantially the same plane as the upper surface 37 of a plastic credit card 38 which is also supported by the base 33. Layer 34 is affixed to the base, whereas the credit card 38 is temporarily supported on the base as during the data transformation operation. The tab card 30 is supported on the credit card 38 and the layer 34 as shown, and a suitable stop or limit 138 may be provided to locate the tab card in predetermined position.

Electrical power or voltage is applied between the base 33 and the electrode 31, and as the latter is rolled to the right in the direction of arrow 39 in FIG. 5, pin hole perforations are formed in the tab card 30 in the same manner as described above, due to the open and current conductive channels 40 in the credit card 38. As the electrode 31 continues to roll to the right over that portion of the tab card 30 overlying insulative layer 34, further information is transferred to the card 30 as by perforating it at other selective locations, as will now be described.

The channeling in the layer 34 typically comprises electrical current conductors 41 carried to project in the layer 34 toward the zone defined between the electrode 31 and the base 33, that zone receiving the sheet or tab card to be perforated. The conductors 41 may be formed as pins selectively inserted into the openings 42 extending through the base 33 and the layer 34, whereby the pins make electrical contact with the base and with the underside of the tab card 30. Therefore, the current flow or arcing occurs between the electrode 31 and the pins 41, the latter representing semi-fixed information to be transferred to the card 30 inasmuch as the pins have semi-fixed carriage or support by the structure 32.

The structure 32 also contains parallel slots 43 located to be traversed in sequence by the electrode 31, the slots extending through the base 33 and the layer 34. Extending the description to FIGS. 3 and 4, the slots receive upwardly projecting conductors `44 movable along the slots with the upper terminals 45 of the conductors adjacent the underside of the tab card 30, whereby the conductors may be selectively positioned lengthwise of the slots. Such positioning may for example be effected by positioners 46 which are manually operable in the directions of arrows 47 as by sliding the positioners. The latter have suitable connection at 48 to the conductors 44. An extension 49 of the base contains slots 50 through which the positioners project upwardly, and index markings 51 on the extension 49 may be used to locate the positioners 46 in order that the positions of the conductors 44 may be accurately determined in relation to the points of electrical perforation of the card 30.

Finally, a printer is located to print on the side of the sheet opposite the electrode 31 in response to the relative movement of a conductor 44 as described above. In this regard, there may be one such printer for each conductor. In the example seen in FIG. 4, the printer is shown in the form of a star wheel 52 having a lixed pivot axis 53 so that the wheel rotates as the slider 48 moves to the right or left, due to the meshing of the star wheel with a rack 56 on the slider. The terminal portions 54 of the star wheel spokes have desired print or type configuration so that as the electrode 31 is rolled over the tab card 30 and urged downwardly, the underside of the card receives the impression of the printer. It is, therefore, possible to select a sequence of numbers to be printed on the tab card, which numbers correspond to the data to be transferred to the card in the form of perforations resulting from electrical current flow between the electrode 31 and the multiple conductors 44.

Voltage is applied between the electrode 31 and the base 33 and also the slider 48 as by a suitable voltage source 57.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for transferring data to a dielectric sheet; means to dene a planar zone to receive the sheet in a predetermined proximate relation to electrical current conductive channels arranged in a pattern representative of data t be transferred to the sheet; an electrode relatively movable in electrical current transfer proximity to said zone and relative to said channels to effect electrical current flow through the sheet and said channels and to perforate the sheet in a pattern corresponding to said channel pattern, the electrode being elongated in a direction extending at a substantial angle to its direction of relative movement and having a range of positions opposite to and in constant proximity to said zone during said relative movement so that the electrode will bridge diterent channels opposite diierent portions of the electrode, and, means to maintain voltage application to said electrode during said relative movement to provide said current flow and perforation of lthe sheet.

2. The combination of claim 1 including an electrically insulative credit card forming said channels.

3. The combination of claim 4 in which the card contains through openings defining said channels.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which said means includes a metal base located to carry said sheet and channels in such relation that said electrical current flows between said electrode and the base via the sheet and said channels.

5. The combination of claim 1 in which said means includes an electrically insulative member containing said channels.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which said channels comprise electrical current conductors carried to project in said member toward said zone.

7. The combination to claim 6 in which said conductors have semi-fixed positions relative to said member.

8. The combination of claim 6 in which said member contains slots along which said conductors are movable.

9. The combination of claim 8 including means for selectively positioning said conductors lengthwise of said slots.

10. The combination of claim 1 including a printer located to print on the side of the sheet opposite said electrode in response to said relative movement.

11. The combination of claim 10 in which the printer has multiple positions corresponding to desired print impressions on the sheet, and including means to actuate the printer between said positions.

12. The combination of claim 1 including said sheet in the form of a tabulating card.

13. In apparatus for transferring data to a dielectric sheet, means to dene a planar zone to receive the sheet in a predetermined proximate relation to electrical current conductive channels arranged in a pattern representative of data to be transferred to the sheet, an electrode relatively movable in electrical current transfer proximity to said zone and relative to said channels to effect electrical current flow through the Sheet and said channels and to form local conductive paths through the sheet in a pattern corresponding to said channel pattern, the electrode being elongated in a direction extending at a substantial angle to its direction of relative movement and having a range of positions opposite to and in substantially constant proximity to said zone during said relative movement so that the electrode will extend over different channels opposite different portions of the electrode, and means to maintain voltage application to said electrode during said relative movement to provide said current flow and local conductive path formation through the sheet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,795,564 3/1931 Korge 219-384 1,865,610 7/1932 Blair 346-74 2,129,782 9/1938 Paris 219-384 2,975,282 3/1961 Schaffer 23S-61.7 3,075,194 1/1963 Gray 346-74 3,170,390 2/ 1965 Wagner lOl-19 3,321,768v 5/1967 Byrd 346-74 3,401,394 9/1968 Leonard 346-74 BERNARD KONICK, Primary Examiner JOSEPH F. BREIMAYER, Assistant Examiner 

